Events in Ukraine have repercussions across the wider region; neighbouring
countries, like Slovakia, are already preparing for the potential arrival
of refugees, and Poland has been heavily involved in the diplomatic effort.
The Czech Republic is slightly further removed from the crisis, but the
tremours can be felt here too - the country has a large Ukrainian
population, many of them migrant workers, and on Thursday evening hundreds
of Ukrainians demonstrated on Wenceslas Square. Some Czech organisations -
like the NGO People in Need - are getting ready to provide humanitarian
aid. Earlier we spoke to the organisation's director Šimon Pánek.

Photo: CTK
“We see the situation as a situation of big humanitarian needs, besides
the pro-freedom or pro-democracy clashes. For the moment we are working on
putting together a group of doctors and medical staff to be deployed to
support the Ukrainian medical staff in Kiev. We will probably soon open an
account for people who want to donate money and support and help the
victims and their families, and in a couple of weeks we presume we will be
part of expected medical evacuations, which means a certain number of
injured people will be selected, transported to the Czech Republic and
treated, rehabilitated and given rest after their treatment in the Czech
Republic.”

Do you think the situation in Ukraine is close to many Czech people’s
hearts? Do they feel a natural solidarity?

Šimon Pánek, photo: Matěj Pálka
“Yes. Certainly it’s relatively close to the hearts of the Czech
people. It’s only 1,000 km away. It depends how many people react;
we’ve already received several dozen enquiries as to how they can help.
At the same time, it is not a massive humanitarian crisis, like the tsunami
or a full-scale war. So we will see, and we will see how the situation
develops. I think those who remember the past, and who care about the
destiny of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and who are really following
the struggle of the Ukrainians are very concerned and motivated to do
something. I’m not sure it’s the majority of the citizens of the Czech
Republic, but definitely a certain number of people are contacting us,
they’re expressing their interest in helping, to join in somehow.”